Color Inspiration

The Pantone Color Institute surprised us all this year by selecting not just one, but two colors of the year for 2016. Designers and industry experts are having fun with the selection, announcing that we can expect twins —Rose Quartz and Serenity.

Personally, I love Pantone’s intention with their choice, which had nothing to do with babies, but maybe a bit more to do with desiring peace in our surroundings: “We wanted compassion, which today a lot of people are looking for,” says Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman. Pantone’s news release describes the colors as “inducing feelings of stability, constancy, comfort and relaxation,” and argues that they “create balance in a chaotic world.”

I’m all for it.

As the design and fashion experts dig into this color trend, it will be exciting, as always, to watch it spread through home decor, fashion, and design over the coming months and years.

I like what Pantone’s team of color experts has to say about the blue hue: “Weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, PANTONE 15-3919 Serenity comforts with a calming effect, bringing a feeling of respite even in turbulent times. A transcendent blue, Serenity provides us with a naturally connected sense of space.”

As for PANTONE 13-1520 Rose Quartz, Pantone calls it, “a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure. Like a serene sunset, flushed cheek or budding flower, Rose Quartz reminds us to reflect on our surroundings during the busy but lighthearted spring and summer months.”

Take a look:

Pantone shares an important fact to keep in mind when designing a new space: When 80% of human experience is filtered through the eyes, we understand that the choice of color is critical. I think this fact has particular relevance given the 2016 selections and the mood they intend to evoke. I can’t wait to work with the many pairing opportunities that Rose Quartz and Serenity offer.

Will you be bringing a greater sense of calm and compassion into your space this year?